16 Winter Olympics Sports List (sorted by Popularity)

All 16 Winter Olympic sports ranked by popularity, from ice hockey, figure skating and snowboarding to skeleton, nordic combined and ski mountaineering.

This is the full Winter Games program rather than winter sports in general, so every entry on it is contested for medals. Each covers the origin, the countries that dominate it and the federation, and the top ten are compared by surface and Olympic debut.

Winter Olympics Sports List

1. Ice Hockey
2. Figure Skating
3. Snowboarding
4. Alpine Skiing
5. Freestyle Skiing
6. Cross-Country Skiing
7. Speed Skating
8. Short Track Speed Skating
9. Ski Jumping
10. Curling

Winter Olympic Sports at a Glance

The ten that draw the audience, sorted by surface and by the year each joined the programme. The events column shows how many separate chances at a medal each sport offers.

The freestyle and snowboard rows have grown fastest. Both arrived after 1990 and both now offer more separate events than ice hockey and curling combined, which is where the Games have picked up a younger audience.

#1 Ice Hockey

Ice hockey, a fast-paced, physical team sport played on ice, traces its roots back to the 1800s in Canada. Today, ice hockey is widely popular in North America and Europe, particularly in Canada, the United States, Russia, Sweden, and Finland.

The National Hockey League (NHL) is the premier professional ice hockey league, predominantly featuring North American teams. Ice hockey has been an Olympic sport since the 1920 Antwerp Games for men and was introduced for women at the 1998 Nagano Games.

#2 Figure Skating

Originating from Europe in the mid-18th century, figure skating is an elegant and artistic sport performed on ice. Skaters perform choreographed routines set to music, with intricate spins, jumps, and graceful movements.

The sport is popular globally, with strong contenders originating from countries like Russia, the United States, Canada, and Japan. The International Skating Union (ISU) governs figure skating, which has been part of the Olympic program since the 1908 London Games.

#3 Snowboarding

Snowboarding, a winter sport combining elements of surfing, skateboarding, and skiing, emerged in the United States in the 1960s.

The sport has since gained global popularity, with a strong following in countries like the United States, Canada, Japan, and various European countries.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) governs snowboarding, which made its Olympic debut at the 1998 Nagano Games, featuring exciting events such as slopestyle, halfpipe, and snowboard cross.

#4 Alpine Skiing

Alpine skiing, also known as downhill skiing, originated in the European Alps in the late 19th century.

The sport involves descending snow-covered slopes using fixed-heel skis and has grown in popularity, with significant followings in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Events include slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and downhill. The International Ski Federation (FIS) governs alpine skiing, which has been part of the Olympic program since the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games.

#5 Freestyle Skiing

Freestyle skiing is a creative and acrobatic winter sport born in the United States in the 1960s. The sport encompasses various disciplines, including aerials, moguls, ski cross, halfpipe, and slopestyle.

Freestyle skiing is popular worldwide, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The International Ski Federation (FIS) oversees freestyle skiing, which was first introduced to the Winter Olympics as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Calgary Games and became a medal sport in 1992 in Albertville.

#6 Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing, one of the oldest forms of skiing, originated in Scandinavia thousands of years ago as a means of transportation.

Today, the sport involves racing on long, narrow skis across various terrains and is popular in countries with colder climates, such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) governs cross-country skiing, which has been an integral part of the Winter Olympics since the inaugural 1924 Chamonix Games.

#7 Speed Skating

Speed skating, a competitive form of ice skating, originated in the Netherlands in the 13th century.

The sport involves athletes racing against each other around an oval ice track, and it has gained popularity worldwide, particularly in Europe, North America, and Asia.

The International Skating Union (ISU) oversees speed skating, which has been part of the Olympic program since the 1924 Chamonix Games.

#8 Short Track Speed Skating

Short track speed skating, a high-energy variation of speed skating, emerged in North America in the early 20th century. Athletes race on a smaller, oval ice rink, often featuring tight turns and exciting overtakes.

Short track speed skating is popular in countries like the United States, Canada, South Korea, and China.

The sport was introduced as a demonstration event at the 1988 Calgary Games and became a medal sport at the 1992 Albertville Games under the governance of the International Skating Union (ISU).

#9 Ski Jumping

Originating in Norway in the late 19th century, ski jumping involves athletes launching off a steep ramp and gliding through the air to achieve maximum distance.

The sport is popular in Europe, particularly in Nordic countries like Norway, Finland, and Sweden, as well as in countries such as Germany, Austria, and Japan.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) governs ski jumping, which has been part of the Winter Olympics since the inaugural 1924 Chamonix Games.

#10 Curling

Curling, a strategic team sport played on ice, has its origins in 16th-century Scotland. Two teams take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones towards a circular target called the “house.”

The sport is popular in countries like Canada, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States.

The World Curling Federation governs curling, which was first introduced to the Winter Olympics as a demonstration sport in the 1924 Chamonix Games and officially joined the Olympic program in the 1998 Nagano Games.

More Winter Olympics Sports

1. Bobsleigh: Bobsleigh, a fast-paced sled racing sport, dates back to the late 19th century in Switzerland. Today, it is popular in countries like the United States, Canada, Germany, and Russia. The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) govern the sport. Bobsleigh has been part of the Olympic program since the inaugural 1924 Chamonix Games.
2. Luge: Luge, a high-speed sled racing sport, originated in Switzerland in the late 19th century. It is popular in European countries like Germany, Austria, and Italy. The International Luge Federation (FIL) governs the sport, which has been part of the Olympic program since the 1964 Innsbruck Games.
3. Skeleton: Skeleton, a thrilling sled racing sport where athletes ride face-down, originated in Switzerland in the late 19th century. The sport is popular in countries like the United States, Canada, and European nations. Skeleton has been part of the Olympic program since the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, with the IBSF overseeing the sport.
4. Biathlon: Combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, biathlon has its origins in 18th-century Scandinavia. The sport is now popular in Nordic countries, as well as in Germany, Russia, and France. The International Biathlon Union (IBU) governs the sport, which has been part of the Olympic program since the 1960 Squaw Valley Games.
5. Nordic Combined: Nordic Combined, comprising elements of cross-country skiing and ski jumping, originated in Norway in the 19th century. It is now popular in Nordic countries and Central Europe. The International Ski Federation (FIS) governs the sport, which has been part of the Winter Olympics since the 1924 Chamonix Games.
6. Ski Mountaineering: Ski mountaineering, a challenging sport that includes ski ascents and descents in rugged mountain terrain, has its roots in Europe in the early 20th century. It is popular in the European Alps and North American Rockies. The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) oversees the sport. While not yet an Olympic event, ski mountaineering was included as a demonstration sport in the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics.

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